I’m almost tempted to skip this section, since Dark monsters are unquestionably the best attribute type in the game. They’re so well-supported that there are subthemes for them, such as Gravekeepers (which features only Dark monsters) and Tomato Control. Therefore, the objective of the field spell (in this case, Mystic Plasma Zone) should be to provide something that Dark monsters are generally lacking.

Surprisingly enough, there are not very many powerful Dark monsters in the game. Sure, there are many Dark monsters that have great effects, but most of them are not known for their high ATK values. However, if you consider the fact that some of the best effect monsters in the game have the Dark attribute, the addition of 500 ATK turns them into huge threats.

For example, two cards that can be searched out by Mystic Tomato (the self-replacing searcher for Dark monsters) are Dark Jeroid and Newdoria. Both are relatively weak, but they possess some pretty nifty effects. Dark Jeroid is a 1200 ATK monster that reduces the ATK of a monster on the field by 800 points, meaning it can reliably take down anything with under 2000 ATK. It can also destroy Spirit Reaper outright. Give it a 500 ATK bonus, and it can now take down D. D. Assailant without pumps, as well as any commonly played single-tribute monster in the game, after its effect kicks in.

Newdoria, too, is greatly strengthened by Mystic Plasma Zone. It has an effect that’s similar to that of D. D. Assailant, and using the field spell will give it the same 1700 ATK. Considering D. D. Assailant is one of the best monsters in the game, it gives Newdoria these attributes too. Also, Newdoria’s effect is targeted, so you can take down a face-down Spirit Reaper, Morphing Jar, or Magician of Faith with its effect. It’s also immune to the effect of D. D. Survivor.

Using these examples as a guideline, let’s construct a lineup of Dark monsters that actually benefit from receiving an ATK increase in conjunction with their excellent effects.

Constructing a Solid Dark Monster Lineup

Like the Fire deck, this one will run the maximum three copies of the self-replacing searcher. In this case, welcome Mr. Mystic Tomato, a card that’s influenced the format since the 2003 World Championships! Its ability to search into some of the best cards in the game, including our favorite Sangan, has made it a tournament staple.

Running three copies of Mystic Tomato obviously begs for us to include some cards to dig out. The first, of course, is Sangan, which allows you to maintain field presence and tribute for no cost. It works like this. Your Tomato turns into Sangan, which then turns into your tribute monster. The effect you dig out from Sangan effectively trades with Mystic Tomato to give you a free tribute monster! Because of this, and the fact that Sangan is such a good tool for poking at your opponent’s life points, it’ll usually be the first card that you search for.

However, the Dark deck also has access to hand disruption, in the form of Don Zaloog and Spirit Reaper. We’ll pack one copy of Don Zaloog and two copies of Spirit Reaper. Is this beginning to look like a simple Tomato Control deck? The sole copy of Don Zaloog is needed in case you want to recur it with Premature Burial or Call of the Haunted. Spirit Reaper, on the other hand, will always allow you to maintain a board presence and the threat of hand disruption.

The final card we’ll throw in is a copy of Newdoria, which effectively serves as a fourth copy of Smashing Ground. Provided the deck runs enough spell or trap removal, it should work effectively to suicide for your opponent’s monster, letting Reaper and Don get through for hits. Yes, this is definitely a Control deck.

Breaker the Magical Warrior is unquestionably the best monster in the game. With the help of Mystic Plasma Zone, it becomes a 2400 ATK powerhouse as well! We can also safely run a copy of Tsukuyomi, since its 500 ATK bonus basically lets it destroy even more monsters when they’re in defense position, including Jinzo, Don Zaloog, and others! In conjunction with the copy of Tsukuyomi, we’ll run two copies of Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive, which has great synergy with the themes of this deck. After all, the deck is built with massive quantities of removal already in mind. If your opponent can’t get through to Dekoichi in time, there’s another way to get free tributes. Your Sakuretsu Armor trades with the opponent’s monster, then Dekoichi flips to draw a card. Once you tribute it, the card you drew for its flip effect basically trades with its own cost. Ta-da—free tributes!

The tribute monsters to run in this deck should either provide monster removal, spell or trap removal, or both. Throw in a copy each of Mobius the Frost Monarch, Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, and Blowback Dragon, and the deck is basically set.

Monsters: 18

3 Mystic Tomato

2 Spirit Reaper

1 Sangan

1 Don Zaloog

1 Tsukuyomi

1 Newdoria

1 Breaker the Magical Warrior

2 Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive

1 Blowback Dragon

1 Mobius the Frost Monarch

1 Zaborg the Thunder Monarch

1 Magician of Faith

1 Exiled Force

1 Morphing Jar

The synergies of this deck should be apparent. However, we want to jump all over our opponent and reduce him or her to topdecking within a few short turns. Therefore, the deck will max out the best copies of monster removal cards, such as Smashing Ground.

Spells: 15

3 Smashing Ground

1 Dark Hole

1 Snatch Steal

1 Mystical Space Typhoon

1 Heavy Storm

1 Premature Burial

1 Creature Swap

3 Mystic Plasma Zone

1 Nobleman of Crossout

1 Book of Moon

1 Rush Recklessly

There you go! This deck features four copies of monster removal through spells. This count includes Creature Swap, which almost counts because of its ability to take your opponent’s monster and then smack him or her with Spirit Reaper for an additional 300 damage and a discard. Rush Recklessly doubles in a pinch as a destroyer of your opponent’s Spirit Reapers, as well.

The standard goal of this deck should be to set Mystic Tomato, biding your time for an opening. Your opponent will destroy it, and you can then search out Sangan or Spirit Reaper. Smashing Ground, Creature Swap, or another such option will leave your opponent’s field blank, and you can then push through a discard rather easily. Of course, this type of strategy will have to rely heavily on spell or trap removal.

Traps: 9

3 Dust Tornado

2 Time Seal

2 Sakuretsu Armor

1 Call of the Haunted

1 Torrential Tribute

Again, enter three copies of Dust Tornado. This time, you can use it to wipe out your opponent’s board for direct hand disruption. The copies of Time Seal will bait out your opponent’s spell or trap removal while contributing to the hand disruption theme. They also work well after you play Mystic Plasma Zone.

You generally don’t want to open with the Sakuretsu Armors, since they’re mainly in place to stop future pushes. You want your Mystic Tomatoes to be attacked, so save the Sakuretsu Armors for either your opponent’s Reaper hits or attacks that will result in a meaningful loss of a monster.

That about wraps up the Dark deck, which is probably the most competitive out of the six attribute-themed decks. We’ll pick up in the future with more elemental-themed decks, right here on Metagame.com!